What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).

Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Berlin	Franklin
People
Population	9,383Highest	8,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.8Highest 3% above NH	42.7±2Lowest about the NH average
	Berlin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.8%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Franklin and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	21.3%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Franklin and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	19.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.2%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
	Franklin and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH	$71,648±$4kHighest 28% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH	$262,200±$22kHighest 35% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$815±$141Lowest 45% below NH	$1,110±$68Highest 26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,437Lowest 48% below NH	$4,886Highest 27% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±12Highest NH: 48.2%	38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Berlin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	64.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH	1959Highest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 30% below NH	32 minHighest 18% above NH
Work from home	3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	8.3%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Franklin and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#108 of 120 in NH	#112 of 120 in NH
School district	Berlin School District	Franklin School District
High school in town	Berlin Senior High School	Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.2Lowest	16.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.